Quebec is one of the only jurisdictions with a code of conduct that can lead to penalties, meaning criminal sanctions, including disciplinary action for non-compliance with rules. As for lobbying, the Lobbyists’ Code of Conduct has provisions dealing with professionalism and respect for public institutions. Part of this respect comes from always telling the truth, providing complete information, avoiding undue benefits, and—I think that’s what they said in the Lobbyists’ Code of Conduct—making sure that public office holders do not go against their own ethical rules. Members of Parliament must follow certain rules so that they do not find themselves in a conflict of interest. Lobbyists therefore shall not place them in a conflict of interest.
I for one am not in favour of a general prohibition because I don’t think that is what we are looking for. Perhaps it is because I am a former chief electoral officer, but I really don't think we should discourage people from getting involved in politics, at whatever level. We obviously have to make sure that active lobbyists do not end up placing ministers or members of Parliament in a conflict of interest. It depends on the facts. If they need to provide names to be able to volunteer, there is no problem with that. But if it is really about a quid pro quo, then it is a whole different story. So we have to be able to determine what the situation is. I don’t think we have had any problems like that in Quebec so far. However, there might have been some at the federal level, but we have not had to deal with those types of problems in Quebec so far.